Table tennis took centre stage as the Sheffield Wednesday Community Programme hosted the regional Premier League 4 Sport Table Tennis and Premier League Girls’ Football tournament.

More than 100 young people from the north east of England took part and the table tennis tournament was won by a team from Newcastle A, ahead of Leeds A, Middlesbrough A and Sheffield Wednesday B. The girls’ football tournament was won by Newcastle United.

The club’s Community Programme has worked in partnership with the Premier League, Sport England and National Governing Bodies in table tennis, tennis, England basketball and boxing over the last 18 months.

The link-up is there to increase participation in sport by delivering Sheffield Wednesday branded weekly satellite clubs in schools and community centres across the north of Sheffield.

Matthew Bray, Social Inclusion Manager for the Community Project, said: “We have had some real success with a number of our weekly participants now progressing and joining local clubs including Wadsley Bridge Table Tennis Club and other local groups.”

Owls player and ambassador for the Community Programme, Jose Semedo, said: “It’s great that Sheffield Wednesday are working with so many high profile organisations to give local kids the chance to play sports. It gives young people the opportunity to try new things, make friends and build confidence.”

Premier League 4 Sport (PL4S) combines the unique appeal of football clubs to engage youngsters from some of the country’s most disadvantaged communities with clubs acting as hubs linked to community sports clubs and facilities, which in turn are connected to satellite clubs which take place in local secondary schools, youth clubs and community sport facilities.

Paul Stimpson
March 5, 2015